Dillon 550 Question???

[Swaydude]

If you don't want it, I do instantly.

[GeoffLinder]

I agree with jumping all over that deal for $400, especially if it comes with the strong mount and tool-heads for all the die sets.

Send it to Dillon for update right away and don't look back :-)

BTW, add the roller handle if it still has the original ball handle, your palm will thank you!

[milotrain]

I spot every primer on the feed bar visually. I don't like sideways primers, upside down primers or no primer. It doesn't slow me down enough not to do it. I love a progressive but just cranking out ammo without getting eyes on the primer and powder drop seems to me to be poor form. That's just me though.

Buy that 550 instantly for anything up to $800. I want a second 550, a basic this time, just for powder drops and bullet seating on larger rifle rounds that I prep outside the press.

[Calplinker]

I'm going to look at it tomorrow and will probably come home with it. He said he has a lot of brass and bullets he'll toss in too.

I just make my first "reloading" purchase the other day when I heard Cabelas had 69 gr. Sierra HPBT on sale for .223, so I bought 500 of them as I like these for long range (to me) target shooting with an AR.

I understand I'll need large rifle primers for .308 and small ones for .223, but what powder would I buy? Same powder for both calibers?

Guy who game me the reloading dies for .30 carbine also gave me a pound of Winchester 296 powder he said is to be used for that along with a box of bullets. My young son has taken a liking to shooting the carbine, so I'll probably start with reloading that, .223 and .308. I have a reloading book I bought a couple of years ago, so I'll read it later today or tonight.

Thanks again.

[Bill Steele]

..I understand I'll need large rifle primers for .308 and small ones for .223, but what powder would I buy? Same powder for both calibers?

Guy who game me the reloading dies for .30 carbine also gave me a pound of Winchester 296 powder he said is to be used for that along with a box of bullets. My young son has taken a liking to shooting the carbine, so I'll probably start with reloading that, .223 and .308. I have a reloading book I bought a couple of years ago, so I'll read it later today or tonight.

Thanks again.

Varget will work for both 308 and 223.

W296 (H110 is the same powder) will work well for your 30 carbine.

Deal of the year, welcome to the club.

[Inkman]

$400.00 is a screaming deal. Hit up the ATM, pay him and get it home now before he sells it to me for $500.00

Al

[GeoffLinder]

For .223 also consider WW748, AA2230 or AA2520. All of these are ball type powders and meter easier than Varget and are better choices under a 55gr in .223 than Varget. These are all good with 42-69gr in .223.

Varget is an excellent choice under 69-77gr in .223 though, just tougher to get it to meter consistently in a drop type powder measure because it is a bulky stick type powder.

The only problem right now will be finding any of these powders in stock anywhere :-(

Congratulation in advance on getting that 550 system :-)

[five.five-six]

varget for my single stage precision loads, I am growing fond of 748 for blasting ammo in .223.

varget meters like ****

[BajaJames83]

you should jump on it. one all set up for 223 sold on ebay the other day for $1500

[CSACANNONEER]

Dillion products tend to go for +75% or current MSRP. $500 is a great deal. I do strongly advise you to find a mentor when you start your journey into reloading. One simple mistake could cost you a gun, a finger, an eye or your life.

[Calplinker]

Only primers I can find are large rifle magnums (cci). Can I use these for .308 or do I need to shop online and hope to find "regular" large and small rifle primers??

[Bill Steele]

Only primers I can find are large rifle magnums (cci). Can I use these for .308 or do I need to shop online and hope to find "regular" large and small rifle primers??

Sure, you can use magnum.

[CSACANNONEER]

DO NOT SUBSTITUTE magnum primers for regular primers. Once you have a lot of experience and more knowledge, you might feel comfortable deviating from published load data. But, do not do it without a lot of experience and knowledge.

[CSACANNONEER]

Sure, you can use magnum.

Does your insurance policy for teaching basic reloading cover you when you make statements like this? If so, please PM me. I'm really looking for errors and omissions insurance to protect me while teaching reloading classes.

[Bill Steele]

Does your insurance policy for teaching basic reloading cover you when you make statements like this? If so, please PM me. I'm really looking for errors and omissions insurance to protect me while teaching reloading classes.

The only difference you will see with magnum primers is larger SD's (in normal rifle loads). Everyone has to work up their loads, my contention is you will not see any difference in where you will start seeing signs of pressure at a given powder charge and OAT, regardless of the primer (standard or magnum). That is my experience.

I have seen a slight difference in magnum versus regular primers in loading handgun, but only when I was way past published "maximums" when loading hot 10mm loads. Even then, the onset of pressure signs were like .1-.2gr difference.

The powder selection (burn rate) and charge weight, its sensitivity to temperature, even lot to lot differences make a bigger impact, at least that is what I have seen.

On the subject of insurance, the surest way I know of getting sued is to have a large liability policy. YMMV.